CYCLE OR HIKE OPTION FOR GREAT WALL OF CHINA CHALLENGE

Adventurous people who want to visit the magnificent Great Wall of China are being given a unique choice to do it on a bike or on foot.

A new Let’s Hike or Bike for Children double event, the Great Wall of China Challenge, has two exciting itineraries - one for hikers and the other for cyclists. Whichever one is chosen every step taken or every turn of the pedal will help sick and disadvantaged babies, children and young people through the work of four special charities: Barnardo’s, Dreams Come True, Kith & Kids and MedEquip4Kids.

Both groups will visit restored and unrestored sections of the magnificent Great Wall and experience a China away from the usual tourist trails. They will follow separate itineraries but meet at the end in Beijing for a special end of challenge celebration.

The Great Wall of China Challenge takes place from 14 – 22 May 2011 and both the cycling and the hiking will be demanding but achievable with plenty of training. There will be a huge amount of friendship and camaraderie along the way. Other highlights of the challenge, which takes place in Beijing province, include visits to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

The original Great Wall was built over 2000 years ago and at its longest stretched over 6,000kms with its main objective to act as a barrier at the border with Mongolia. Today it is one of the great wonders of the world. The five-day hiking itinerary offers a very different experience of the Great Wall every day from Mutianyu, through Black Dragon Paw Park, to Gubeikou and Jinshanling finishing at Simatai. It is a challenging walk taking in thousands of steps, dozens of watchtowers and some steep and rugged countryside.

The 450kms cycling challenge over five days starts in Shun Yi and finishes at the Ju Yong Pass, a quiet area of the Great Wall. Along the way the group will cycle alongside sections of the wall at Mutianyu and Badaling on a route that passes lotus ponds, villages, orchards and through lush mountain ranges with spectacular views.

To take part you need to pay a registration fee of £250 and pledge to raise minimum sponsorship funds of £3,200 for the Let’s Hike or Bike for Children charities. For further information and to register for either the hike or the cycle ride go to: www.actionforcharity.co.uk or telephone event organisers Action for Charity on 0845 408 2698.

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